Inactivation of nervous necrosis virus infecting grouper (Epinephelus coioides) by epinecidin-1 and hepcidin 1–5 antimicrobial peptides, and downregulation of Mx2 and Mx3 gene expressions
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Abstract
Betanodaviruses are one of the serious pathogens in nervous necrosis viral (NNV) disease
that brings about mortality in the larval stage of grouper (Epinephelus coioides).
In this study, the efficacy of pretreatment, co-treatment, and posttreatment with
the antimicrobial epinecidin-1 and hepcidin 1-5 peptides against a betanodavirus was
evaluated by intraperitoneal inoculation in grouper. The results showed that co-treatment
of epinecidin-1 or hepcidin 1-5 with the virus was effective in promoting a significant
decrease in grouper mortality. Re-challenge with virus again after 30 day in co-treated
grouper groups showed high survival suggesting that epinecidin-1 and hepcidin 1-5
enhanced fish survival. However, grouper inoculated with NNV and then inoculated with
epinecidin-1 8 h later showed significantly different survival from the group inoculated
with virus alone, suggesting that epinecidin-1 can be used as a drug to rescue infected
grouper. Infection after pretreatment, co-treatment, and posttreatment with epinecidin-1
or hepcidin 1-5 was verified by RT-PCR which showed downregulation of Mx2 and Mx3
gene expressions. All these data strongly suggest that epinecidin-1 and hepcidin 1-5
are effective peptides for protecting grouper larvae by reducing NNV infection.
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